Museum Artifact: “Swing Girl” Electronic Mantle Clock, c. 1950
Made By: MasterCrafters Clock & Radio Co., 216 N. Clinton St., Chicago, IL
The MastersCrafters Clock & Radio Company was a literal mom and pop shop through most of its 50 year existence—operated first by Ben Lerman and his wife Kate in the 1940s and ‘50s, then by their daughter Doris and her husband Bernard Ellman into the 1980s.
Museum Artifact: Dorson Jr. Time Stamp, c. 1930s
Made By: Dorson Corporation (aka Dorson Time Instruments Co.), 605 W. Washington Blvd, Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Museum Artifact: “Golden Hour” Mystery Clock, c. 1950s
Made By: Jefferson Electric Company, 840 S. 25th Avenue, Bellwood, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Museum Artifact: Precision Time-It Electric Timer, c. 1940s
Made By: Precision Scientific Company, 3737 W. Cortland St. Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Museum Artifact: Oldsmobile F36 Glove Box Clock 6V, 1936
Made By: Geo. W. Borg Corporation, 469 E. Ohio Street, Chicago, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Museum Artifact: Lincoln Electric Clock, c. 1932
Made By: Electric Clock Corp. of America, 500 S. Throop St., Chicago, IL
What’s in a name? I suppose a 20th century Shakespeare might have said that an electric clock, under any brand name, would still tell the same time. To Henry T. Schiff, however, the name was the thing.
In the mid 1930s,
Museum Artifact: Elgin Pocket Watch, 1926
Made By: Elgin National Watch Company, 107 National Street, Elgin, IL
Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.
Museum Artifact: Victor Interval Timer, 1920s
Made By: Victor X-Ray Corporation, 2012 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL
As company names go, the word “Victor” is so ubiquitous—particularly in early 20th century circles—that it basically cancels out the concept of brand recognition. The most famous Victor of the era, the Victor Talking Machine Company of New Jersey (est. 1901), was at least smart enough to distinguish itself with an iconic logo—“His Master’s Voice”
Museum Artifacts: Luminous “Big Ben” & “Baby Ben” Clock Dials (1940s) and Style 1A “Big Ben” Alarm Clock (1920s)
Made By: Western Clock MFG Company, aka Westclox, 350 5th St., Peru, Illinois
A clock without hands might seem indifferent to the passage of time, but these old “Big Ben” and “Baby Ben” dials have some serious stories to tell.
Purchased from a man who claimed to have salvaged them from the backroom of an unnamed Chicago watch repair shop,
